Jinx94
Well-Known Member
Towards the end of Sept, I started bringing my horses in overnight. My lovely, goofy youngster would dive into her hay and then come up for air snorting before doing it again. At the time, I rolled my eyes, smiled and called her a muppet.
A week later she started to headshake when I put the head collar on and while she was eating. I monitored her for a few days but it just got worse. She would shove her head right up and then fling it to the ground so hard that on a few occasions, her front legs buckled (while being lead). She would also launch it from side to side (to her girth) and shake her nose at the same time. This would all be accompanied by a lot of snorting. The day that she hit her head on the board above her stable while being lead out was the day that I decided to put her back out 24/7.
She's still headshaking when she eats anything tougher than grass, when she moves around and if anything comes into contact with her head. I can't catch her right now, probably could with sufficient bribery but don't want to cause her any unnecessary discomfort.
My vet is involved. We went to the clinic a few weeks ago and she had her teeth checked (VERY thoroughly), nasal passages and guttural pouches scoped (again, VERY thoroughly) and also had a full set of head and neck xrays. We couldn't find anything.
This was followed by a bute trial which made no difference.
I'm collecting some pregabalin tonight which she will start having from tomorrow. We have a CT scan booked in with a specialist next week.
Prognosis isn't sounding overly positive, so I have also reached out to a cranio sacral therapist recommended by a friend, and had a chat with her about what to do if nothing shows on the CT. It isn't something that I am much of a believer in, but if it is unlikely to cause any harm and might benefit her, I'll give it a go.
I'm open to any advice, suggestions, stories.. it's all looking a bit bleak. A real shame as I hadn't managed to properly back her this year as I've struggled to get help on the ground and my job (which I'm leaving) took over my life. Trying to stay positive, but it's tough.
A week later she started to headshake when I put the head collar on and while she was eating. I monitored her for a few days but it just got worse. She would shove her head right up and then fling it to the ground so hard that on a few occasions, her front legs buckled (while being lead). She would also launch it from side to side (to her girth) and shake her nose at the same time. This would all be accompanied by a lot of snorting. The day that she hit her head on the board above her stable while being lead out was the day that I decided to put her back out 24/7.
She's still headshaking when she eats anything tougher than grass, when she moves around and if anything comes into contact with her head. I can't catch her right now, probably could with sufficient bribery but don't want to cause her any unnecessary discomfort.
My vet is involved. We went to the clinic a few weeks ago and she had her teeth checked (VERY thoroughly), nasal passages and guttural pouches scoped (again, VERY thoroughly) and also had a full set of head and neck xrays. We couldn't find anything.
This was followed by a bute trial which made no difference.
I'm collecting some pregabalin tonight which she will start having from tomorrow. We have a CT scan booked in with a specialist next week.
Prognosis isn't sounding overly positive, so I have also reached out to a cranio sacral therapist recommended by a friend, and had a chat with her about what to do if nothing shows on the CT. It isn't something that I am much of a believer in, but if it is unlikely to cause any harm and might benefit her, I'll give it a go.
I'm open to any advice, suggestions, stories.. it's all looking a bit bleak. A real shame as I hadn't managed to properly back her this year as I've struggled to get help on the ground and my job (which I'm leaving) took over my life. Trying to stay positive, but it's tough.
